Switching apparatus.



PATBNTED DBC. 8, 1903.

W. KAISLING. SWITCHING APPARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 7, 190s.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

N0 MODEL.

Inv Enur llliam Kallmg [smeg PATENTED DEG. 8, 1903.

W. KAISLING.

SWITGHING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED nu 7, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

InvEnTnl" Wm Kailln ATIur WlTnESEES,

E ZM mammals versus co, r-

AUNITED STATES Patented :December s, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM KAISLING, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO STROMBERG- CARLSONTELEPHONE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATIONOF NEW YORK.

SWITCHING APPARATUS.

SEECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 746,095, dated December8, 1903.

Application filed May 7, 1903. Serial No. 156,081. (No model.)

have heretofore been devised in which it has` been proposed to connectthe telephone instruments at a number of substations with a singletelephone-line. 'The signaling devices at these various substationsconnected with any one line have frequently been constructed in such amanner as to be responsive to signaling-currents of a certain peculiarcharacter impressed upon the telephone-line and irresponsive tosignaling-currents of other characters which may be impressed upon theline. It has heretofore been the practice to provide at the centralstation a series of keys each provided with au operating-lever, each ofwhich keys serves when actuated to cause the connection of the terminalsof a source of current of a given definite charact-er with thetelephone-line. Thus the actuation of one key may serve to connect'theterminals of a source of pulsating direct current with the line, theactuation of a second key may serve to cause the connection of theterminals of a source of alternating current of one frequency with theline, and the manipulation of a third key mayserve to cause theconnection of a source of alternating current of a different frequencywith the line. These various keys as heretofore installed in acentral-operators switchboard have occupied a large amount of space.Furthermore,the provision of a number of keys, any or all of which maybe operated at one and the same time, has frequently given rise toconfusion and difficulties due to the fact that two or more keys havebeen manipulated at the same time when it was the operators intention toma- I Prominent objects of my invention are to' rprovide a so-calledringing and listening key for the use of a telephone-exchange operatorwhich shall overcome the difficulties in keys of the priorarthereinbefore pointed out.

Means are provided by myinvention whereby but one of the keys associatedwith a given cord circuit may be operated at a time. Means are providedwhereby there is a permanent indication at all times of the key whichmay have last been manipulated. Furthermore, my invention combines thenecessary parts into a neat and compact structure occupying very littlespace on the operators keyboard.

A preferred embodiment of my invention will be made clear by referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevationthereof. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Fig. o is a cross-sectional viewtaken on line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. -t is a similar view showing certainparts in their alternate position. Fig. 5 is a partial cross-sectionalView taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view ofau operators cord-circuit to which my invention has been applied.

In the drawings I have illustrated a top or escutcheon plate 10, adaptedto be fastened by screws passing through the holes ll ll to the keyboard of a telephone-operators switchboard-section. Projectingdownwardlyfrom the top plate 10- and rigidly secured thereto are thecylindrical pillars l2 12, which support the center plate 13, to whichthe springcontacts may be secured. Insulated from the center plate 18and rigidly secured thereto are the contact-springs 1414, which comprisean operator-s listening-key adapted for the purpose of connecting theoperator-s telephone set l5 (diagrammaticallyillustrated in Fig. 6) inbridge of the cord-strands\l6 and 17. The actuating-lever 18 ispivoted"`atl9 in the frame l and carries beneath the top plate a roller20, of hard rubber, adapted upon a manipulation of the lever 1S to beforced between the main contact-springs of the listening-key to connectthe operators telephone set in bridge of the cord-strands. In additionto the spring-contacts 14 of the operators listening-key there aresecured to the center plate 13 four sets of contact-springs adapted whensuitably operated to connect sources of signaling-currents of variouscharacters in bridge of the cord-strands4 leading to the calling-plug ofan operators cord-circuit.

In Fig. 6 I have diagrammatically illustrated an operators cord-circuitin which the strands 16 and 17 connect the tip-sleeve contacts of theanswering-plug 21 with those of the calling-plug 22. The spring-contactsof the listening-keys are diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 6 and areprovided with reference characters corresponding with the reterencecharacters on Figs. 1, 3, and 4. ln Fig. 6 I have illustrated analternating-current generator 23, one of whose terminals is connectedwith the ground G and the other terminal of which is connected with thecontact 24. The main contact-springs 25 and 26 normally make contactwith the contacts 27 and 28, thereby providing for the continuity ofthecord-circuit between the answering and calling plugs. When the springs25 and 26 are wedged apart, spring 25 makes connection with the contact24, While spring 26 makes connection with the contact 29,therebyconnecting one terminal of the generator 23 with the tip-strand leadingto the callingplug 22, while the sleeve-strand of the cordcircuit isconnected to ground through the contact 29. A second alternating-currentgenerator 30 is provided, having one terminal connected with the groundG, as shown, and the other terminal connected with a contact 31 of asecond ringing-key. This ringing-key comprises in addition to thecontact 31 the main contact-springs 32 and 33, which normally makeconnection with contacts 34 and 35 and which when manipulated makeconnection with the contacts 31 and 36, thereby serving to connect thetip-strand leading tothe tip of the calling-plug with the ground G andto connect the sleeve-strand leading to the calling-plug with oneterminal of the alternating-current generator 30. At 37 isdiagrammatically represented a generator or other source of pulsating orintermittent direct currents of one polarity. The negative terminal ofthis generator is desirably connected with the contact 39, the otherterminal being connected with the ground G. The main contact-springs 40and 41 normally make electrical connection with the contacts 42 and 43,but when wedged apart make electrical connection with the contacts 39and 44, thus serving to connect the negative terminal of the generator37 with the sleeve-strand leading to the calling-plug and to connect thetip-strand leading to the calling-plug with the ground G. At 45 isillustrated a second pulsating directcurrent generator, whose positivepole is connected with the contact 46 and whose negative pole isconnected with the ground G. The main contact-springs 47 and 43 normallymake connection with the contacts 49 and 50 and when spread apart. serveto connect the sleeve-strand leading to the calling-plug 22 with thepositive pole of the pulsating-current generator 45 and the tip-strandleading to the calling-plug, through the contact 51, with the ground G.The sets of springs, each comprising a ringing-key, are designated as awhole by the reference characters A, B, C, and D. As mounted upon thecenter plate 13, each pair of main contactsprings ot the ringingkeys isprovided with a hard-rubber wedge 52, carried upon a stud 53, projectingthrough a suitable opening in the top plate 10. The elasticity of themain contact-springs serves to retain the wedge 52 and its stud 53within the opening in ihe top plate 10. There is secured to the topplate 10 a dovetailed track or slide 54, upon which is fitted forsliding engagement a slider 55. This slider carries a push-button 56,10which is secured an actuating-stein 57. A retaining-cap 58 incloses aspring 59, which retains the push-button 56 in its upper normalposition, the head of the stem 57 engaging the shoulder 60 to preventthe push-button from being forced from the retaining-cap 53. lt will beseen that by moving the slider upon the track 54 the stem 57 may bebrought into register with the stud 53, whereuponfa depression of thebutton 56 forces the wedge 52 between the main contact-springs of aringing-key to wedge the same apart, thereby connecting the terminal ofa source ot' signaling-current with a strand of the cord-circuit, asbest illustrated in the diagrammatic Fig. 6. By moving the slider on thetrack 54 it will be seen that the push-button may be broughtintoposition to actuate any one ofthe tour ringing-keys shown. The topscrews 60 and 61 in addition to retaining the track 54 in position uponthe top plate 10alsoserve tolimitihelongitudinalmovementof theslider-55. In order that the stem 57 may be quickly and accuratelybrought into register with any desired stud 53, there are provided aseries of depressions 62 in the track 54. Secured to the upper side ofthe slider 55 there is a flat spring 63, exerting a downward pressureupon the detent-pins 64, accommodated in suitable holes in the slider55. The lower ends ot' these detent-pins are rounded, as shown,whereupon the deient-pins serve to engage the depressions 62 to lightlybut surely stop the motion of the slider 55 in such a position as tobring the stem 67 directly above a stud 53. A slight pressure exertedupon the slider or the cap 58 carried thereby serves to disengage thepins from the depressions, whereupon the slider may be moved so as topermit the actuation of any desired ringing-key.

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A more or less ornamental casing is provided to inclose and protect theslider' and the detent mechanism mounted thereupon.

The operation of the device will at once be apparent to those skilled inthe art. The central operator having inserted her callingplug 22 withinthe line-jack of a line to which four substations are connected, amovement of the slider to its proper position and the depression of thepush-button to manipulate any one of the ringing-keys serves to connectthe terminal of the corresponding source of signaling-current with oneof the telephoneline limbs. It is a frequent practice to designate anumber of substations connected with a single telephone-line each by adiii'erent' color, as black, red, blue, and green. l have found itdesirable, therefore, to provide upon the top plate lO of the operatorsringing and listening key suitable patches of color to correspond withthe color by which is noted a substation whose signaling apparatus isactuated bythe corresponding ringing-key. Thus the ringing-key A may bemarked by the black patches U6, the ringing-key B may be marked by thered patches 07, the ringingkey C may be marked by the blue patches 68,and the ringing-key D may be marked by the green patches 69. A centraloperator, therefore, desiring to signal a subscriber whose substation isdesignated blue,7 may bring the push-button 56 into the position showniu the drawings, between the blue patches 68. A depression of the buttonwill then cause the connection through the instru mentality of theringing-key C of a source of current through the telephone-line, such asto act-nate only the signaling apparatus located at the substation blue.The slider and push-button carried thereby remain in the position inwhich last utilized until removed therefrom by an operator, whereby anindicating-key is provided to indicate at all times which of a series ofsubstations connected with a single line has last been signaled from thecentral station.

The character of the currents supplied by the signaling-generators isimmaterial and forms no part ot' my present-invention, it being snicientthat t heconuections established by a manipulation of each of theringing-keys cause the proper signaling of but one of a series ofsubstations connected with a single party-line.

The embodiment of my invention herein disclosed is particularly designedand well adapted for use in conjunction with such a party-line telephonesystem as is disclosed in an application, Serial No. 151,249, led April6, 1903, by William M. Davis.

While l have herein shown and described one preferred embodiment of myinvention, it will be apparent that many modifications may be employedwithout departing from the spirit thereof. I do not', therefore, wish tolimit myself to the precise disclosure herein set forth; but,

Having described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patentl. In a device of the class described, the combinationwith a suitable frame including a top plate l0, of a plurality of groupsof contact-springs each group comprising a ringingkey adapted uponactuation to connect the terminals of a source of signaling-current witha telephone-line, a wedge of insulating material for each of saidringing-keys each carried upon a stud projecting through a suitableopening in the top plate, a slider movably mounted upon said top plate,and a pushbutton carried in said slider adapted upon depression toengage one of said studs to cause an actuation of the correspondingkey.

2. ln a device of the class described, the combination with a suitableframe including a top plate l0, of a plurality of groups ofcontact-springs each group comprising a key, a wedge of insulatingmaterial for each of said keys, each carried upon a stud projectingthrough a suitable opening in the top plate, a slider movably mountedupon said top plate, and a push-button carried in said sliderad a ptedupon depression to engage one ot'said studs to cause an actuation of thecorresponding key.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a suitableframe including a top plate lO, ot' a plurality of groups ofcontact-springs, each group comprising a ringingkey adapted uponactuation to connect the terminals of a source of signaling-current witha telephone-line, a wedge ot insulating` material For each of saidringing-keys, each carried upon astud projecting through asuitableopening in the top plate, a slider movably mounted upon said top plate,a pushbutton carried in said slider adapted upon depression to engageone of said studs to cause an actuation of the corresponding key, anddetent mechanism forstoppiug the movement of said slider to bring saidpush-button into register with any desired stud.

4t. ln a device of the class described, the combination with a suitableframe including a top plate, of a plurality oi' groups of contactspringseach group comprising a ringing-key adapted upon actuation to connectthe terminals of a source of signalingcurrent with a telephone line, aslider movably mounted upon said top plate, a push-button carried insaid slider, means whereby a movement of said slider may serve to bringsaid push-bu tton into register with any one of said ringingkeys, meanswhereby a depression of said push-button may cause an actuation of theringing-key in register therewith, and detent mechanism forstoppingthemovementot' said slider to bring said push-button into register with anyone ol said ringing-keys.

5. In a device ol the class described, the combination with a suitableframe including atop plate l0, oi' a plurality ot' groups ofcontact-springs each group comprising a ringingkey, a Wedge ofinsulating material for each IOS of said keys, each carried upon a studprojecting through a suitable opening in the top plate, a slider movablymounted upon said plaie, a push-button carried in said slider adaptedupon depression to engage one of said studs to cause an actuation of thecorresponding key, detent mechanism for stopping the movement ot saidslider to bring said push-button into register with any one of saidstuds, and means for indicating the key with which said push-button isin register.

6, In a device of the class described, the combination with a suitableframe including a top plate l0, of a plurality of groups ofcontact-springs each group comprising a key, a slider movably mountedupon said top plate, a push-button carried in said slider adapted upondepression to cause an actuation of one of said keys, detent mechanismfor stopping the movement of said slider to bring said push-button intoregister with any one of said keys, stops for positively limiting themovement of said slider, and means for indicating the key with whichsaid push-button is in register.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with a suitableframe including atop plate l0, of a plurality of groups ofcontact-springs each group comprising a key, a slider movably mountedupon said top plate, a push-button carried in said slider adapted upondepression to cause an actuation of one of said keys, detent mechanismfor stopping the movement of said slider to bring said push-button intoregister with any one of said keys, and stops for positively limitingthe movement of said slider.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a suitableframe including a top plate 10, of a plurality of groups olcontact-springs each group comprising a key, a slider movably mountedupon said top plate, a push-button carried in said slider adapted upondepression to cause an actuation of one of said keys, and detentmechanism for stopping the movement of said slider to bring saidpush-button into register with any one of said keys.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination with a top plateIO, of a center plate 13 secu red to said top plate, a telephoneoperators listening-key carried by said center plate, lever mechanismfor operating said listening-key carried by said top plate, a pluralityof ringing-keys mounted in a straight line on said center plate, a wedgeof insulating material carried upon a stud projecting through a suitableopening in said top plate for each of said ri nging-keys, a track onsaid top plate, a slider having dovetailed engagement with said track, apush-button carried in said slider, a downwardly-projecting stem on saidpush-button, and detent mechanism adapted to stop said slider in suchposition that a depression of said push-button Will cause said stem toengage any one of said studs to cause an actuation of the associatedringing-key.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with a top plate10, of a center plate 13 secured to said top plate, a telephoneoperators listening-key carried by said center plate, lever mechanismfor operating said listening-key carried by said top plate, a pluralityof ringing-keys mounted in a straight line on said center plate, a wedgeof insulating material carried upon a stud projecting through a suitableopening in said top plate for each of said ringing-keys, a track on saidtop plate, a slider having dovetailed engagement With said track, apush-button carried in said slider, a downwardlyprojecting stem on saidpush-button,detent mechanism adapted to stop said slider in suchposition that a depression of said push-button will cause said stem toengage any one of said studs to cause an actuation of the associatedringingkey, and means for indicating the key with which said push-buttonis in position for actuation.

ll. In a device of the class described, the combination with a top platel0, of a center plate 13 secured to said top plate, a telephoneoperators listening-key carried by said center plate, level' mechanismforoperating said listening-key carried by said top plate, a pluralityof ringing-keys mounted in a straight line on said center plate eachadapted to connect the terminals of a source of current with atelephone-line, a Wedge of insulating material carried upon a studprojecting through a suitable opening in said top plate for each of saidringing keys, a track on said top plate, a slider having dovetailedengagement with said track, a push-button carried in said slider, adownwardly-projecting stem on said push-button, detent mechanism adaptedto stop said slider in such position that a depression of saidpush-button will cause said stem to engage any one of said studs tocause an actuation of the associated ringing-key, and means forindicating the key with which said push-button is in position foractuation.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination with a top plateIO, of a center plate 13 secured to said top plate, a telephoneoperators listening-key carried by said center plate, lever mechanismfor operating said listening-key carried by said top plate, a pluralityof ringing-keys, a Wedge of insulating material carried upon a studprojecting through a suitable opening in said top plate for each of saidringing-keys, a track on said top plate, a slider having dovetailedengagement with said track, a push-button carried in said slider, adownwardly-projecting stem on said push-button, and detent mechanismadapted to stop said slider in such position that a depression of saidpush-button will cause said stem to engage any one of said studs tocause an actuation of the associated ringing-key.

13. In a device of the class described, the

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combination with a top plate 10, of a center plate 13 secured to saidtop plate, a telephone operators listening-key carried by said centerplate, lever mechanism for operating said listeningkey carried by saidtop plate, a plurality of ringing-keys, a wedge of insulating materialcarried upon a stud projecting through a suitable opening in said topplate for each of said ringing-keys, a track on said top plate, a sliderhaving dovetailed engagement with said track, a push-button carried insaid slider, a downWardly-projecting stem on said push-button,detentmechanism adapted to stop said slider in such position that a depressionof said push-button will cause said stem to engage any one of said studsto cause an actuation of the associated ringing-key` and means forindicating the key with which said push-button is in position foractuation. 14. In a device of the class described, the combination witha top plate 10, of a center plate 13 secured to said top plate, aplurality of ringing-keys mounted in a straight. line ou said centerplate, a Wedge of insulating material carried upon a stud projecting`through a suitable opening in said top plate for each of saidringingkeys, a track on said top plate, a slider having dovetailedengagement with said track, a pushbutton carried in said slider, adownwardly-projecting stem on said push-button, and detent mechanismadapted to stop said slider in such position that a depression of saidpush-button will cause said stem to engage any one of said studs tocause an actuation of the associated ringing-key- 15. In a device of theclass described, the combination with a top plate 10, of a center plate13 secured to said top plate, a plurality of ringing-keys mounted in astraight line on said center plate, a Wedge of insulating materialcarried upon a stud projecting` through a suitable opening in said topplate for each 0f said ringing-keys, a track on said top plate, a sliderhaving dovetailed engagement with said track, a push button carried insaid slider, a downwardly-projecting stem on said push-button, detentmechanism adapted to stop said slider in such position that a depressionof said push-button Will cause said stem to engage any one of said studsto cause an actuation of the associated ringing-key, and means forindicating the key with which said push-button is in position foractuation. 16. In a device of the class described, the combination witha top plate 10, of a center plate 13 secured to said top plate, aplurality of ringing-keys mounted in a straight line on said centerplate each adapted to connect the terminals of a source of current witha telephone-line, a wedge of insulating material carried upon a studprojecting through a suitable opening in said top plate for each of saidringing-keys, a track on said top plate, a slider having engagement Withsaid track, a

push-button carried in said slider, a downwardly-projecting stem on saidpush-button, detent mechanism adapted to stop said slider in suchposition that a depression ot' said push-button will cause said stem toengage any one of said studs to cause an actuation of the associatedringing-key, and meanstor indicating the ke;T with which saidpush-button is in position for actuation.

17. In a device of the class described, the combination with a top plateIO, of a center plate 13 securedto said top plate, a plurality ofringing-keys, a Wedge of insulating material carried upon a studprojecting through a suitable opening in said top plate foreach ot' saidringingkeys, a track on said top-plate, a slider having dovetailedengagement with said track, a push button carried in said slider, adownwardly-projecting stem on said push-button, and detent mechanismadapted to stop said slider in such position that a depression of saidpush-button will cause said stem to engage any one of said studs tocause an actuation of the associated ringing-key.

18. In a device of the class described, the combination with a top plate10, ot a center plate 13 secured to said top plate, a plurality otringing-keys, a wedge of insulating material carried upon a studprojecting through a suitable opening in said top plate for each of saidringing-keys, a track on said top plate, a slider having dovetailedengagement With said track, a push button carried in said slider, adownWardly-projecting stem on said push-button, detent mechanism adaptedto stop said slider in such position that a depression of saidpush-button Will cause said stem to engage any one of said studs tocause an actuation of the associated ringing-key, and means forindicating the key with which said push-button is in position foractuation.

19. In a device of the class described, the combination with a suitableframe including a top plate 10, of a plurality of ringing-keysacceptably mounted on said trame, a Wedge of insulating material carriedupon a stud projecting through a suitable opening in said top plate foreach of said ringing-keys, a movable push-button mounted on said frame,a downWardly-projecting stem on said pushbutton, means for moving saidpush-button into position to register with any one ot' said studswhereby a depression of said push-button ma)7 cause an actuation of thecorresponding key,and detent mechanism adaptedv to stop the movement ofsaid push-button in register with any desired ringing-key.

In vvitn ess whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 5th day of May,A. D. 1903.

W'ILLIAM KAISLIN G.

INitnesses:

LYNN A. WILLIAMS, HARVEY L. HANsoN.

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